Greece’s Golden Visa Is Europe’s Most Flexible Residency Program 🇬🇷

Sunsets, Citizenship & a Simpler Path to the EU

Once you’ve sailed across the Aegean or gazed at the Acropolis from your hotel balcony, you understand: Greece isn’t just a vacation—it’s a lifestyle. And in 2025, it may also be your smartest path to long-term European residency. In a world where more travelers are looking for second citizenships, European access, or simply a plan B, Greece stands out. Its Golden Visa program has gained traction for being far more accessible than similar programs in other countries—without compromising the perks.

If you're weighing your next move abroad, here’s what you need to know about how Greece’s golden visa works, what it takes to qualify, and why now might be the perfect time to go Greek.

The Basics

The Greek golden visa is a residency-by-investment program that allows non-EU citizens to obtain a five-year renewable residence permit by investing in Greek real estate. You don’t even need to live there to keep it. You can include your family, access public healthcare and education, and travel freely throughout the Schengen Zone.

What sets it apart from similar programs? Simplicity, flexibility, and a strategic approach to regional development.

The Greek Approach

In 2025, new regulations increased the minimum real estate investment in high-demand locations such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, and Santorini to €800,000. However, across much of the mainland and less-visited islands, the minimum remains a relatively attainable €400,000. There are also options to invest as little as €250,000 in renovation projects or conversions of commercial properties into residential spaces.

By selectively raising thresholds only in high-pressure housing markets, Greece has kept its program open and appealing while easing strain on local residents. The result is a system that remains one of Europe’s most attractive for real estate-based residency.

Easier Than Ever

In late 2022, Greece digitized its golden visa process. Everything can now be done online: from securing a tax number to opening a Greek bank account and signing for your property via power of attorney. You don’t need to be in the country to begin the process, and there’s no minimum stay requirement to keep your residency active. That makes the Greek golden visa one of the most flexible in the world.

A Family Affair

Unlike some programs that scrutinize every contributor to a group investment, Greece allows families to pool funds and co-own properties. Parents, spouses, and even in-laws can be included on the same permit, keeping the process simple and unified.

Applicants can even borrow funds from foreign banks to make their investment—a rare allowance that further widens access to those without immediate cash reserves.

The Lifestyle

Beyond paperwork and price tags, what makes Greece shine is, of course, Greece itself. With over 9,000 miles of coastline, more than 6,000 islands (227 inhabited), and ferry routes that knit it all together, you have endless options. Prefer the hum of a port town, the silence of a hillside village, or the crystalline waters of an unspoiled island? It’s all within reach.

And while the big cities and well-known islands may carry higher price tags, the mainland and lesser-traveled isles offer tranquil living, beautiful scenery, and full modern conveniences at a fraction of the cost.

Why Now?

In a shifting global landscape, Greece has positioned itself as one of the most viable paths to EU residency for real estate investors. With low entry points outside of major cities, no physical presence requirement, streamlined digital applications, and flexible family options, the Greek golden visa is more accessible than ever. Whether you're after citizenship, a summer escape, or just a smarter backup plan, Greece’s golden visa is worth a serious look.

And once you catch a sunset over the Aegean, you might not want to leave anyway.